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ITF Coaches Education Programme

Biomechanical principles for the serve in tennis

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

At the end of this session you will be able to


Understand the mechanical factors which help producing a good serve Understand the theory behind advanced serving mechanics Analyse the service actions from a biomechanical perspective

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Speed of serve
1999 Wimbledon
Sampras Rudseski Ivanisevic Henman 218.8 215.6 215.6 214.0 Williams Novotna Serna Graf 201.1 180.2 173.8 17220

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Service action main phases


Backswing Forward swing Follow through

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Phases of the backswing


Leg drive / foot orientation Trunk and shoulder rotation Upper arm external rotation Storage of elastic energy

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing foot up & back techniques


The foot up and foot back techniques are characterised by different considerations
Back foot just behind to allow hip rotation Foot up: Better vertical drive Foot back: Better preparation to the net

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing leg drive


The racket should be down behind the back side It is better if the racket is away from the body than too close to it The body moves forward Forward rotation of the trunk Efficiency: If the body is taken off the ground

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing leg drive - hitting in the air


An effective leg drive will not only affect the displacement of the racket but also will make hitting in the air Dont teach hitting in the air It is a natural consequence of the leg drive

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
right foot referred to left foot
If, at impact, the back foot comes forward to be positioned in front of the front foot it will not allow the rotation of the trunk It is better to keep the back foot behind the front foot at impact

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing shoulder and trunk rotation


Rotation of the body Forward movement of the body Shoulder over shoulder

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing rotation of the body


It is the less important of the 3 movements of the body 2 directions:
To the ball Counter rotation

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
forward movement of the body
To impact Rotation forward of the trunk The racket shoulder is moving forward into impact 10-20% of the power of the serve comes from this action

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
shoulder over shoulder movement
Right shoulder over the left shoulder Related to how high the ball toss is and to the location of the ball toss Free arm goes up This movement differentiates good serves from excellent ones

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
link of leg drive and trunk/shoulder rotation Large forward rotation What differences slow vs. fast serves is the cartwheel rotation (shoulder over shoulder)

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing trunk and shoulder rotation


Horizontal (rotation) Vertical (shoulder over shoulder) There are movements you need to put the muscles of the arm in stretch

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
external rotated position of the shoulder
Stored energy around the shoulder It is different from the forearm You dont want the hand to be hyperextended because it would create too much stretch on the forearm

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing storage of elastic energy


Need to put muscles and tissues of the upper limb and shoulder on stretch Look at if the movements of the trunk allow for this stretch of the shoulder muscles and tissues The body movements should create this stretch

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing how to store elastic energy


Take the shoulder back Use muscular effort Plyometric training:
do it better on soft surfaces Box 1/2 metre Amount of force: 4-5 times body weight on 2 legs

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing use of elastic energy: timing


If the movement has a delay of 1 sec., 50% of the energy is lost The longer the delay, the more energy is lost This does not mean that there should not be or there is not a pause The pause has to be shorter than 1 sec.

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing
benefits of use of elastic energy
Pre-loading of the muscle 20% benefit of external followed by internal rotation I.e. Taking the arm back and then forward 20% increase of power in the serve Reduce 20% the muscular effort in the serve

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Phases of the forward swing


1. Co-ordinated action (kinematic chain)) 2. Upper arm internal rotation and arm flexion 3. Ball toss 4. Impact alignment of hitting limb - trunk 5. Racquet trajectory 6. Foot landing sequence

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing co-ordinated swing


Leg Drive + Trunk rotation Upper arm Elevation & flexion Forearm extension + Forearm pronation + Upper arm internal rotation Hand flexion
Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Shoulder speed

Elbow speed Optimal Racket Speed

Wrist speed

Racket speed

Forward swing co-ordination


Flow together Good rhythm All should take place Is the player using all the segments he can use? Females do not use shoulder over shoulder as much as males do

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Forearm extension


Gives height Pronation of forearm does not gives power but realigns the racket face It changes the angle

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing upper arm internal rotation


It occurs very lightly It participates completely in the follow through Do not teach to finish the movement across the body It is detrimental to the speed

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing
contributions to racket speed at impact
Leg drive Trunk flexion Internal rotation Hand flexion 10% 20% 30-40% 30%

This does not mean that there are parts which are less important in the serve
Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing
Wrist action following internal rotation is wrist flexion Shoulders are almost parallel to the net prior to impact Area of highest speed is just above the area of percussion

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball toss


Should be considered as part of where is the trunk Not isolated, if not, it may be wrong Types:
Forward foot plane (B.Becker) Facing plane (J. Newcombe)

Dont know which is better, easier for beginners to toss in front

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball toss location


On the left foot The upper limb is straight and the racket is tilted This permits a better shoulder rotation (internal rotation of the upper arm) Latissimus dorsi is the one which does much of the work

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Movement of the free arm


Push the ball into the air No Science involved on it Keep it close to the body when the hand goes down Better movement of inertia

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball impact location


Ball travels forward and left related to left toe It is not hit on the right but on the left side of the body

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing
Impact alignment of the upper limb - trunk
If the shoulders are horizontal to the ground the alignment is incorrect If the shoulders are almost parallel to the ground the alignment is correct

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Up and out hitting action


Feel like the right shoulder is hitting out This is affected by the leg drive This movement can be helped by using a cue word such as: up and out, drive

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Use of the whole body


Just swinging with the upper body will not help your serve By using lower body the racket will move up and out to the ball

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Spins


Slice comes by putting the shoulders parallel to the net With the shoulder over shoulder movement the player can produce more topspin Flat serves do not exist

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Other aspects


Yandell (1998) found that there is not such thing as a flat serve in professional tennis The hitting action is up and out In the serve you dont hit through the ball Landing foot:
95% Left - left 5% Left - right

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Other aspects (II)


Dont let the arm swing too far away from the body Apply the same principle as when the kids take the racket from the throat. They can rotate the racket better when the point of contact is closer

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Phases of the follow through


Upper arm internal rotation Shoulder orientation

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Follow through
Internal rotation plays a very large role It takes the racket out of the body Check shoulder orientation:
Not horizontal Better more vertical

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Follow through
Check internal rotation and pronation Check the movement of the racket when it is finished

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Serve teaching tips


Beginners:
Rhythm is the most important thing

Intermediate:
Include leg drive, trunk rotation, etc..

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Angular momentum in the serve


The body has to develop forward momentum about the X axis (trunk) As the trunk slows down, the arm gains momentum

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Appropriate service techniques for a more powerful serve are result of


Increased racket displacement Increased segment rotations Increased use of elastic energy Rhythmical action about a stable base

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Summary service mechanics


Get leg drive, trunk rotation, shoulder over shoulder to increase racket displacement Increase segment rotation but not with beginners With advanced players work on trunk extension Increase stretch to pre-load muscles Rhythmical action

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

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